Tonopah Arizona
Tonopah is in Maricopa County, about 50 miles west of downtown Phoenix with an elevation of 1,490 feet. It is surrounded by the Belmont Mountain on the north, Saddle Mountains on the west, Paolo Verde Hills on the south and the Hassayampa River on the east. These mountains are volcanic in origin and are made of the same material found under the Tonopah Basin. The name “Tonopah” came from the first dwellers in the area, known as the Hohokam, which means “hot water under the bush.” It was called “Lone Peak” prior to being called Tonopah. It was founded in 1929.
Construction of hot-bath houses during the 1930s became popular because of the thermal waters in the area which was one of Tonopah’s outstanding features. When the Belmont Mine opened in the 1920s, mining became popular. In 1929, the first school was built.
